1Gamila M Shanab, 2Laila A Helala, 2Hesham S Sanad, 1Nabil A Saleh and 2El Saïd M Abou-Gamrah
Departments of 1Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and 2Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Thirty patients suffering from mild atopic bronchial asthma
were divided into 3 equal groups and were subjected to experimental therapy via
inhaling either 0.25, 0.50 or 1.00 x 106 IU of nebulized recombinant
interferon alpha -2b (rIFN-a-2b). The objective was to demonstrate whether this cytokine has
safe medical consequences and reliable therapeutic effects. Skin reactivity
and pulmonary function [peak expiratory
flow rate (PEFR %)] were tested before and after treatment. Post treatment data
of both serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was compared with homologous
baseline levels, as well as with levels from 10 healthy control subjects (PEFR
% and serum parameters only). Negative skin prick tests, together with a
dose-dependent significant reduction in eosinophil count and significant
increase in PEFR %, were observed as remarkable signs of lowered sensitivity
and improved airways function in the asthmatic patients after inhaling
nebulized rIFN-a. The significantly
alleviated serum and BAL levels of IL-4 concomitant with lowered serum total
IgE as well as dust mite and milk specific IgE, were the most apparent
immunological positive consequences of treatment with rIFN-a (0.50 x 106 IU), suggesting
possible inhibition of IgE synthesis via blocked IL-4 function on TH2
cells. This could be considered a reliable index for potential therapeutic
treatment of bronchial asthmatic patients with aeorosolized rIFN-a, especially in patients with unchanged
serum levels of IgG, A and M.